The East Harlem Council for Human Services and advocates from across New York State are urging state leaders to protect funding for community health centers during their annual Advocacy Day. Representatives from all 80 federally qualified health centers running over 900 sites across New York State met with legislators to highlight the essential role these centers play in providing primary and preventive care to vulnerable populations.
Advocates warned that reductions in funding resulting from the passage of HR 1 and proposed Medicaid cuts could have immediate consequences for immigrant, low-income, and urban communities that depend on culturally competent and accessible healthcare services. CHCANYS estimates that federally qualified health centers across New York State will face an over $300 million loss in revenue. While the Governor’s budget has allocated $60 million in funding to community health centers, this falls significantly short and will not fill the gap.
Leadership’s Call for Full Funding
Dr. Adam Aponte, CEO of the Council and a board-certified pediatrician with more than 25 years of experience serving underserved communities, met with several lawmakers including Assembly Member Edward Gibbs, Senator Cordell Cleare, Assembly Member Manny De Los Santos, and Senator José M. Serrano. Dr. Aponte stated that community health centers are essential to the health and stability of neighborhoods and that for many families, these centers are the first and sometimes only point of access to medical care.
The Council operates the Boriken Neighborhood Health Center, a federally qualified health center providing bilingual, community-based care to over 12,000 patients each year. Founded in 1965, the Council has spent nearly six decades supporting the health and well-being of families in East Harlem and surrounding communities. Leaders reiterated their call for state leaders to prioritize full funding for community health centers in the final state budget, emphasizing that continued investment in community-based healthcare infrastructure is critical to maintaining access to care across New York State.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://menafn.com/1110828247/East-Harlem-Council-For-Human-Services-Urges-Albany-To-Protect-Funding-For-Health-Centers-Serving-25M-New-Yorkers